Mild cold wave is sweeping over country's four districts - Panchagarh, Rajshahi, Jashore and Chuadanga - while bone shivering cold was felt in around 18 other districts on Saturday.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department bulletin issued at 6pm on Saturday, the country's lowest temperature of 8.7°C was recorded in Chuadanga district on Saturday morning amid mild to moderate cold wave sweeping parts of the country while 9.2°C was recorded in Panchagarh's Tentulia, 9.7°C in Rajshahi and 10°C in Jashore.
The temperatures of the country's 18 more districts were felt in between 10°C and 12°C, which was also bone shivering for the people of rural areas. The districts are Chapainawabganj, Sirajganj, Pabna, Bogura, Naogaon, Natore, and Joypurhat of Rajshahi division, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kruigram, and Gaibandha of Rangpur division, Tangail, Faridpur, Madaripur, and Gopalganj of Dhaka division.
Amid this, Thousands of poor, ultra poor and low income street people of districts are suffering for great misery due to lack of necessary warm clothes. The low income people refrained of going to work due to the shivering cold with light wind.
The shivering cold disrupted the normal life of people, especially the daily wage earners. The sun remained invisible till 12pm. People were forced to remain indoors due to the cold.
The middle class and low income people crowded at road side hawkers' markets to purchase worm cloths to save themselves from chilling cold, but the price of the used clothes was high.
Floating and distressed people are trying to fight with the chilling cold round the clock by burning straw, papers and dry leaves sitting beside roads and open sky due to lack of warm clothes.
Meanwhile, children and elderly people suffered cold related diseases including pneumonia, bronchitis, diarrhoea, dysentery and jaundice which out a week ago. They were seen gathering in the hospitals.
According to the Met Office statement, mild cold wave is sweeping over the districts of Panchagarh, Rajshahi, Jashore and Chuadanga and it may continue.
It forecast that moderate to thick fog may occur at places over the country during midnight till morning while night and day temperature may rise slightly over the country only after Monday.
Jaminur Rahman, acting in-charge of Chuadanga Weather Observatory Centre, said they recorded 8.7°C at 9am on Saturday. The temperature might drop further.
Typically, a mild cold wave is classified when temperatures range between 8.1°C and 10°C. Currently, a mild cold wave is affecting the districts of Panchagarh, Rajshahi, Jessore, and Chuadanga, and it is expected to persist.
Meteorologist Shahnaz Sultana said: "A cold wave is affecting several regions today. While temperatures may not drop significantly further, the cold wave could spread to additional areas."
According to the Meteorological Department, a subcontinental high-pressure ridge extends to West Bengal and its adjoining areas, while a seasonal low-pressure zone lies over the southern Bay of Bengal, with an extension stretching to the northern Bay of Bengal.
The BMD also forecasts that the weather across the country will remain dry with partly cloudy skies.
